A bong certainly looks as fascinating as it works. Bongs date back thousands of years, with archeological excavations showing that the bongs were used by Iranian-Eurasian tribes about 2,400 years back. They were introduced to China during the late Ming dynasty in the 16th century approximately through Persia and the Silk Road.

With time, bongs underwent many changes with advances in technology and are available in various shapes and sizes today. However, glass pipes are most popular because of durability, easy maintenance, and other factors.

If you come across a bong for sale and decide to purchase it, you must know about its various parts and how it works to get the best experience.

What are the different parts of a bong?

The structure of a bong is more complicated than it seems, and it consists of several parts found in all bongs, regardless of their size and shape. What sets them apart are the chambers that serve the function of filtering and cooling water.

• Bowl piece

A bowl piece is one of the most vital parts of the bong because that is where you stuff your product after grinding it. Most of them have a hole at the bottom, with most people preferring a smaller one because it stops the product from scattering.

• Ash catcher

This device catches the ash from the bowl piece when it drops. It is a simple glass attachment that prevents ash from entering your mouth and your bong. Some also have built-in percolators, which filter and cool the smoke thoroughly. Even if you do not clean the bong regularly, it is essential to clean the ash catcher after a few uses to ensure it doesn’t interfere with the tobacco or herb’s flavor.

• Joint

Joint is referred to as the part of the bong that holds down the stem. Joints are either male or female but suitable for you, depending on what material you smoke. These are usually available in three sizes: 10 millimeters, 14 millimeters, and 18 millimeters.

• Down stem

The down stem refers to the bridge between the bowl and water placed in the main chamber of the bong. They are available in different styles and serve various functions. However, the most basic of them resembles a glass straw with a hole at the end that causes bubbling. You will also come across more developed stems with in-built percolators to further cool the smoke. When you use a glass bong, it is better to use a plastic clip to keep the stem firmly attached to the bong. You will find the stem and bowl in one piece in some bongs, called slides.

• Percolator

The job of a percolator is filtering the smoke several times after it passes the water at the stem’s end. Even though there are different percolators, you must pick one based on your requirements. It is better to select ones without too many holes because once the holes are clogged after several uses, it will affect the quality of the smoke.

• Splash guard

You will find splash guards in bongs with heavy percolation. It is an insert made of quartz which prevents the water from splashing upwards and outside the mouthpiece. They are available in various shapes. Splash guards usually have three spikes of glass whose job is to cool the air before it reaches the top of the bong.

• Mouthpiece

Although the mouthpiece occupies the last position in this list, it will be the first thing you notice in a bong. It is situated right at the top and is the place from which the smoke enters your lungs. Mouthpieces were exclusively horizontally-shaped until a few years ago but are now angled in a way that prevents you from hunching while taking a drag.

Knowing the parts of a bong will help you the next time you see a bong for sale. It will also help you have a more relaxed, enjoyable, and exciting smoking experience.